Attention: there will be some coarse language. Nothing shocking, though.

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Chapter 13 – Days 7 and 8: Boiling Point

Baelfire and Belle were surprised with Rumpelstiltskin's sudden recovery. He looked fresher and more spirited, like in the beginning of the week. He must have slept at least twelve hours, and the break seemed to do wonders to his health. They weren't the least amazed when he decided to carry on after lunch. And since he was in such high spirits, there were, this time, no objections.

What Baelfire and Belle didn't know was that Rumpelstiltskin was a good actor. Oh yes, he did feel and look better, but he knew all too well this was a very temporary condition. He could still feel the numbness in his muscles and the chills running through his body. He knew the fever was going to return and the only way bringing this hell to an end, were a couple days of good rest. A luxury he couldn't afford right now. The extra bread and fruit he had bought was practically finished. The water was going down too fast for his liking. He was thirsty, but didn't dare to drink the other's share. And they were still one day and a half away from Bram. If they didn't make it by tomorrow evening, it would become critical for all, but mostly for him. If he became too weak… Well, he preferred not to think too much about it. So he behaved merrily for the sake of all. Rumpelstiltkin plastered a smile in his face and walked the last heavy miles with growing effort. He only let his mask off by nightfall, when they camped. Baelfire and Belle of course noticed right away something was wrong.

"You're pushing yourself too much." Belle told in a mix of concern and disapproval. "You carry on like this and you'll kill yourself."

"We will all die if we stop." Was his answer. Belle sighed annoyed.

"You're exaggerating."

"Am I Linda? Tell me, dearie. What are we eating tonight? The last piece of bread? And tomorrow? It's crumbs?" He suddenly spat. He felt already scared enough with the shrinking of provisions, now he was starting to feel frustrated for being the only one to see the gravity of their present situation. "And what about the water?" Belle stared at him both shocked and upset. Those were strong arguments, but still, they surely could survive a day with only one meal. "You know what the best part is? Soon it will be a climb! But not an easy gradual climb. It's a steep, rocky and fatiguing climb. So don't come and tell me I'm exaggerating!" He yelled the last part. A heavy silence fall between them.

"Have it your way then." She bitterly said and walked away.

Belle sat before the fire with her back to him. She understood the food and water were ending, she understood he didn't feel well, but it still didn't justified him to raise his voice like that at her. Belle wondered if he was acting like this because of their little chat earlier, when she refused to reveal her identity. Or was she witnessing a hidden dark side of the mellow man?

Baelfire looked at her but dared not to say anything, scared to upset his father. The tension was heavy and he knew his father could say horrible things when he was angry. And Rumpelstiltskin wasn't even close to being angry. This was irritation, frustration, fear, but not anger. He would explain that to Belle later on, excuse in his father's behalf and warn her for tomorrow. Baelfire could tell when his father was nearing the boiling point. This only happened in rare times, when the pain became too great to bear and the fears would transform into madness. When these circumstances were combined in a perfect twisted internal storm, the beast would come loose. Tomorrow, he knew, would be hell.

Rumpestiltskin, on the other hand, regretted his words immediately, but was too cowardly to admit it. He knew she was only concerned, but the growing pain he'd been enduring more than a week was finally starting to build up and mess with his mind. He felt sick. He truly felt sick. His whole body was tearing down. Of exhaustion, of worries, of pain. He had been keeping all his fears and physical sufferings to himself, as long as possible. Now his never ending patience was quickly dying, giving place to tempestuous temper. He tried to think clear, to realize that nobody was to blame for their present situation. Yet, he ended by cursing internally for everything and nothing related to his situation. It was like if some perverse darkness was swallowing all his kind human nature and giving place to an irrational being. With fiery thoughts, Rumeplstiltskin sunk into a world of disturbing dreams. He woke up several times during the night, sweating and confused. It was his son's face and Belle's voice that would comfort him. Somewhere between his nightmares, he truly believed he was being watched by angels.

The morning arrived, announcing a very challenging day. Rumpelstiltskin woke up completely worn out, but at least free of fever and with a cleared mind. He walked to his son who was staring miserably into an empty bag.

"There is no food anymore." The teenager regretfully said. Before his father could say anything, Baelfire run off. "I'm going to search for something to eat!" Rumpelstiltskin groaned at the boy's rush but let him be. He was too tired to get angry right now.

"Did he have any sleep last night?" He asked Belle, still staring at the spot the boy had just disappeared.

"I doubt it. He was already busy with you when I woke up." She answered. Rumpelstiltskin sat next to her and let out a heavy sigh.

"This is not right. You both need to rest."

"We'll rest later at your friend's." Belle assured coldly. She wasn't really in the mood of talking with him. She felt weary and hungry; and deep down, she was still a bit upset from their little quarrel. Baelfire had told her about his father's rare irate moods but she still thought it was no justification to treat her like that.

"I'm sorry I'm keeping you both back." He said while his stroked his temple with trembling fingers. "I should have seen it coming. I should have taken all the wool and sold it. I could have bought more food, more cans!" Rumpelstiltskin moaned almost in despair. He was too tired to continue struggling and hope was quickly dying away. Belle could have slapped herself. How could she be upset with the man that carried all the weight of responsibility and had done nothing but sacrifices to keep them safe? He shouldn't even be sitting up; even more walk those ridiculous miles with his bad leg. "I knew I was going to be sick, but…" He trailed off, looking defeated.

"But not this bad." Belle completed his sentence. He nodded and for the first time he looked truly vulnerable. She could see the guilt and fear in his eyes.

"Rumpelstiltskin, you cannot blame yourself for being sick. It's not like you chose for it." Belle told him, placing her hand on his shoulder. She squeezed it softly in hope to cheer him up again, but could not see any change in his eyes. "It's not only the leg, is it?" She whispered.

Rumpelstiltskin suddenly felt exposed, his lone secret discovered and thought he would break down of pure fear and despair. Belle had found out the truth. He trembled a bit, concealing all the sadness stapled up inside. Belle's hand on his shoulder felt the tension accumulated in his muscles. She understood now what was really upsetting him. It was not his leg, or the food or water. It was his home, his burned village, his childhood friends. All lost in one single day. That was the cause of his high fevers and confused dreams. The leg had only been the agent that transformed it into illness. "Just don't give up. Please." She whispered.

She wanted him to look at her, to see she was there for him, but his eyes refused to meet hers. Rumpelstiltskin ultimately fought back mournful tears and nodded, his gaze never leaving the floor. They remained like this, seated in silence, both afraid he couldn't make it, both fearing for today.

Baelfire had succeeded in raiding a couple bird's nests and found some awfully bitter, but eatable roots. As tasteless the little food was, they highly welcomed it. The modest breakfast gave enough strength to move on and face the difficulties of the day. And so, half way the morning they reached the foot of the mountain. It was exactly like Rumpelstiltskin had described. Endlessly tall, steep, with rocky and uneven ground. Fortunately, a forest of tall trees grew in it and provided a lot of shadow. Alas, Bram lived further up, in the middle of the dense woods.

Entering this new landscape brought many challenges. It was not only the climbing that was more difficult. The dark woods weren't home of rabbits and partridges, which wandered off in peaceful clearings. No, they were home of larger and dangerous animals. Rumpelstiltskin forbade Baelfire by all means to wonder off the path, sounding more threatening the more the boy insisted. All Baelfire found for lunch were more disgusting roots, some mushrooms (that his father doubled checked for poison) and some nut shelves he found in the way.

Belle could see things heading to disaster. The merriness and easygoingness from the beginning of the journey was transforming into tension and the switching of short angry words. Everybody was tired, hungry and thirsty. But in Rumpelstiltkin's situation, the pain, the fears, the exhaustion were more than just breaking his body; they were destroying his mental sanity. The cripple was tormented by the persistent aching and fever. He was as livid as paper, trembling from the cold chills while he sweated away his now everlasting fever. He felt dizzy; his mouth was dry and craving for water. He was in the edge of collapsing. And yet, the man wouldn't give up. He was the first one to get up after a short break for lunch and restart the journey. Baelfire and Belle's concern grew when he started stumbling more frequently, originating a series of muffed curses. Baelfire walked close to him, assuring he had an extra hand for support. And each time Rumpelstiltskin would stumble, the boy would ask if he was okay. Maybe it was the fever, maybe the lack of water, maybe it was the exhaustion. But at a certain point, the cripple simply snapped.

"For the gods sake, will you stop asking me if I'm alright?" Baelfire practically jumped backwards. He looked wide eyed. But he had been expecting this the whole day. The beast was finally loose. "Of course I'm not alright! I'm fucking tired and hungry and thirsty and this ridiculously damaged leg is not helping! I'm trying my fucking best to forget it all, but you bloody keep reminding me of it by your constant questioning!" Rumpelstiltskin yelled in one breath, his face contorted from the fury that possessed him.

Baelfire just stood there, looking at his father scared and worried at the same time. Belle, who was already ahead, stared in pure shock at the man. She never expected to hear him shout and curse, even more to his son. He could as well have slapped the boy on his face, she thought. The effect was the same. The princess suddenly had the urge tell him off and hit him with the truth of what he was being right now, and she was already preparing to descend to meet them. But Baelfire signed her to stay where she was. The beauty was surprised with the boy's calm reaction. Any normal person would flip after that. But she could not see what Baelfire saw. Rumpelstiltskin was panting heavily while tears rolled down his eyes. His fury was being fed by despair. He was trembling from head to toes. It was too much. He couldn't take another step. He had finally reached all his physical and mental limits.

"I'm sorry Bae…I'm really sorry." He whispered, his face hidden behind his hair, as he stared at the ground. "I shouldn't take it out on you...I'm so sorry." He regretfully said. "I'm just tired. So tired."

Baelfire was on the brink of tears. He could hear in his father's feeble voice he had given up. Rumpelstiltskin had reached the point in which he just wanted to lay down and fall into a deadly sleep. Baelfire knew he had to be the strong one now. He had to be the one with the leadership. He had to bring hope back to his father. They were too close. Bram's house was only few hours away. So the boy gently put his arms around his father. Rumpelstiltskin rested his head on his son's shoulder, muttering words of forgiveness and love. Belle watched from a distance and failed to understand what was going on. First the man was yelling like a monster at the boy and now they were holding tenderly. She had been too far to witness Rumpelstiltskin's real condition and regretful words. But she felt her rage from a minute ago melt away. She watched them with curiosity and couldn't help admiring the bond these two had. The complicity, the love, the loyalty and the support they gave each other were unbendable. She smiled at the realization. When one would fall, the other would be there to catch.

"Papa, we are almost there. It's a short walk. Nothing compared to what we already did."

"I'm sorry, I really cannot. I'm not well…I'm really not well."

"We'll rest a little while. Make short stops. You'll see it will be easier."

"No. You should go ahead. I've been holding you back too long already."

"Not leaving you, Papa! So you better get that stupid idea out of your head right now!" Baelfire scolded, outrageous with his father's proposition in leaving him behind. Rumpelstiltskin gave a chuckle and smiled at his son's determination and loyalty. A little flame of hope returned to his heart.

"A little while then."

The last miles are always the heaviest.

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